WASHINGTON — The Pentagon has announced new rules allowing transgender individuals to serve openly in the U.S. military.
The new policy ends one of the last bans on service in the military.
The announcement was made during a live broadcast Thursday by Secretary of Defense Ash Carter.
Carter said at least 18 countries already allow transgender individuals to serve openly.
Several senior U.S. officials told The Associated Press that the chiefs of the military services sought more time to fully develop and implement the complex new rules.
*The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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